ArtPrize venues making changes to connect with community

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The crowds will soon be filing in to downtown Grand Rapids and the artists will set up for ArtPrize 10 when it kicks off Sept. 19.

Some changes will be seen downtown while the festival is in full effect, but two of the bigger exhibitions at the event are making changes as well.

Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts will be taking its exhibition from inside to the outdoors as more permanent art goes up in local neighborhoods in the form of murals.

The project is called UICA outside and features five murals; one on the West Side, three in the Creston Neighborhood and one in the Baxter Neighborhood.

UICA will still be open with its usual features during ArtPrize.

A UICA spokesperson says the idea this came from the Jurors Grand Prize winner in 2017, HeARTtside Community Meal. They are aiming to be more connected to the community and have art in the neighborhoods that is accessible 24/7.